A tractor-trailer driver from Virginia has been charged with vehicular homicide for allegedly striking and killing a bicyclist on South St. Marys Street in St. Marys in 2016.
Duane J. Townsend, 59, of Chesterfield, Va., is charged with accidents involving death or personal injury, a second-degree felony; homicide by vehicle, a third-degree felony; involuntary manslaughter, a first-degree misdemeanor; failure to stop and render aid, careless driving, and overtaking a bicycle on the left, all summary offenses.
According to court records, at 4:44 a.m. Oct. 7, 2016, a tractor-trailer driven by Townsend struck a bicycle operated by Alvin Lecker, 51, killing Lecker. The truck left the scene without stopping.
The criminal complaint in the case indicated that forensic evidence showed there was 39 feet from the point of impact to where Lecker’s body was found.
Later that morning, a passerby, Richard Longhi, met with St. Marys Police, saying he may have information about the traffic accident. He said while he was at work, he had heard a bicyclist was hit and killed, and recalled passing a bicyclist in that area before 5 a.m. that day. He said the man had a bicycle helmet on, and it had lights in the front and back.
He said three tractor-trailers passed by on the four-lane South St. Marys Street when he was waiting to turn from Route 948. After entering the road, Longhi’s vehicle was in front of one truck and behind two others, all traveling north. He said he saw the trucks ahead of him move over to the inside lane as they came upon the cyclist, who was clearly visible from the blinking LED lights on his person. Longhi also moved his vehicle into the other lane to give the cyclist room. However, he said it did not appear to him that the truck behind him had made any lane change, pulling up beside him at a traffic light. He said the truck said JB Hunt on it.
On Oct. 9, 2016, Elk County Detective Gregg McManus looked for any possible surveillance video in the area, finding three locations. The videos showed that the last truck in the line had not moved over, and that after it had passed, Lecker was no longer moving forward, the criminal complaint read.
The complaint noted that an autopsy on Lecker by a pathologist, Dr. Eric Vey, showed the deceased had died from “massive” head trauma.
McManus spoke to attorney Gary Stewart, who said he would be the point of contact for JB Hunt. He told police there were two JB Hunt trucks in St. Marys that morning, and he had interviewed both drivers. One recalled seeing the cyclist, while the second man — Townsend — said he didn’t recall seeing anything, the criminal complaint read.
Both trucks were tracked down and parked, and photographed in place. The photos, sent to McManus, photos showed damage to the passenger side front bumper of the truck Townsend was driving, court records read.
A preliminary hearing in the matter is scheduled for 10 a.m. March 6 before District Judge Mark Jacob in St. Marys.
